The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-18
Which Is the Christianity OF
Heathenism

Heathenism?
A very interesting discussion has taken
place between two Cinnamon In the pages Of
the North American Revieu for August and
for September. 1t is concerning the COM
parative merits OF heathenism and Christian
ity or, more specifically, Confucianism and
Christianity.
In the number for August Mr.. woNo CHIN
Foo answered the question. "Why am I
Heathen" and In the later number Mr.. YAM
PHoU LEE responded by explaining "Why
am Not Heathen." Both of them were
"born and raised" as heather, though they
came under the influences Of Christianity ut
an early age, the first when about seventeen
and the second at thirteen. But tho effects
produced upon them by the change were
totally different. AT this impressible period
Of life" says Mr.. WoNo CHIN Foo, Chris
tianity presented itself to me at first under
Its most alluring aspects." 90 that I &C.
riously contemplated becoming the bearer Of
heavenly tidings to my benighted heather
people," But the more he studied Chris
tianity and observed its actual results here,
the more convinced he became that he could
not honestly offer 1t to his countrymen as
Mr.. YAM PHoU LEE, on the other hand,
confesses with shame that he Ibid not
take to Christianity kindly at first, and
for three years to come" but when.
In 1915, he listened to Mr.. MOODY. that
grand man Of GOD" as he describes him, it
WAS with conviction Of my lost estate. Of
my need OF redemption" Lest the Chinese
Commissioner Of the Educational Mission, to
which he belonged. should order him back to
China, he prudently delayed joining Chrts-
tian church until his American education
was completed. He even returned to China
without showing his true colors, but when
there, mot confident Of my strength
to stem the current that was set
ting In toward heathenism," says Mr..
YAM PHoU LEE, II left the naval
school as soon as could get leave of absence
went to Canton, and Joined tho Presbyterian
PER-" when. as matter Of course, he was
obliged Ito give up the Government service
and heathenlsm at the same time" Would
it not have been more strictly honorable II
he had notified his superior at once of his
change OF religion and reiinqulshed the sup
port which his Government had given him. ON
the understanding, as his story implies. that
he should remain heathen1 The casuistry
that "all's fair in love and war" assuredly
cannot be carried into religion.
Now let us give the defence of heathenism
and the criticism Of Christianity on the ono
eide, and the answers on the other, leaving
everybody to decide between them.
Mr.. WONG CHIN Foo says that when he
came to examine into the subject he was
"bewildered by the multiplicity Of Christian
sects." II he thought of becoming q
Protestant he must choose between these
warning bodies. and when he turned to
Catholicism, "in chorus my solicitous
Protestant friends beseeched me not to
touch Catholicism, declaring 1t was worse
than my heathenism." He came to the con-
clusion, therefore. that 1t was necessary for
him to go to the Bible TO find out for himself
what Christianity really was as taught there.
Tho accounts Of the creation and OF tho
Garden Of Eden did not disturb him. but
when he came to the deluge and NoAH's
ark he was puzzled to reconcile the story
with his conceptions OF "a Just and meroiful
Divinity" nor could he understand why tho
Jews, who seemed to him particularly un-
deserving race, should have been made
"the chosen OF Cop, 10 tho detrl-
ment of the rest Of mankind" Tho doc
trine Of the redemption. too. els not
strikingly Impressive to the heathen;"
for. although at may be fattering to tho
Christian to know 1t required the cruoihxion
Of GoD to save him, and that nothing less
would do, 1t opens up series OF differences
that make the idea more and moro incom-
prehensible and moro and moro inconsistent
with VIII, Purpose Wisdom. and Justice
thoroughly Divine" When he got TO tho
New Dispensation, with it's sin-forgiving bus
mess" he "hguratively went TO pieces on
Christianity" 1t seemed TO him absolutely
prepoaterous" that, however wicked the sim
ner, he had the same chance Of salvation as
the most Gop-fearing;" that "the eleventh.
hour man was entitled to the same heavenly
compensation as the one who had labored In
tho Lords vineyard from the first hour"